Madrid: in English, without translation. Cordoba: In English, with simultaneous translation into Spanish.

On the dates of April 4 and 5 in Madrid and Cordoba, respectively, Casa
Árabe has organized an event on “Islamic Finance & Tourism: New
Scenarios, New Business.” You may now sign up.

The event was organized in conjunction with the Spanish-Saudi Center for Islamic Economics and Finance (SCIEF) at the IE Business School and the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) in the United Arab Emirates, in order to explore the new scenarios and business opportunities opening up in the fields of Islamic finance and halal tourism within the framework of economic relations between Spain and the Arab-Islamic world.

In recent years, we have seen continual growth in Islamic finance, which has risen from representing just a small market niche to consolidating as one of the fastest growing segments in the global finance system, forming part of a process of geographic and sector-based diversification, as well as digitalization and sophistication, with the development of Fintech. During these years, development has been taking place at the global level in the Halal industry, in all its many forms, from agro-food products to tourism. Furthermore, while the world economic crisis created new difficulties for certain industries and destinations, it also drove foreign trade and created windows of opportunity in new sectors, increasing the interest of Spanish companies in Middle Eastern markets, above all in the Gulf region.

Organized in the form of a two-day event, with sessions in Madrid (at the IE Business School) and Cordoba (at the Casa Árabe headquarters), the meeting will bring together quite a large delegation of international representatives and experts, on four panels devoted to analyzing the latest developments in the Islamic digital economy, trade in halal food products, halal tourism and innovation processes in this sector, and Islamic architecture and landscaping, as features for the promotion of cultural heritage.

The days will include the cooperation of a full host of institutions and entities from Dubai and Spain (on Dubai’s part, the Dubai Government, Dubai Exports, the Dubai Chamber, Dubai Culture, the Dubai Airport Free Zone and the Halal Trade & Marketing Center, and on Spain’s part, the Municipal Government of Cordoba, the Cordoba Tourism Office, the Halal Institute and the Foundation for Islamic Culture.